Vynasha has spent the last four years tending her mother's roses and looking after her nephew. The fire that killed their family has left her scarred and put Wyll on the brink of death. Soon the first frost will come down from the mountains and she knows this winter will be his last. Until a strange beggar appears on the road, telling her of the majikal Source that can heal her Wyll. With nothing left to lose, Vynasha braves the forbidden Wylder Mountains to seek out a cure and her fate.A lost kingdom is uncovered by an equally lost girl, but the castle is not abandoned as she believes. Shadows cloaking unseen eyes watch. Tapestries whisper from the hidden corners, wondering if the one to break their curse has come. And a hungry beast waits, ready to devour her soul.

Wind
stirred and a single snowflake flew inside, gliding to the surface before her.
One of the panes was open. As she approached the glass door, she took in the
breadth of the balcony, stretching past the transparent wall. Mountains stood
farther out and the howls that had haunted her dreams sang along with the
winter storm.

She
jumped and melded back into the shadows when she heard heavy footsteps. Cold
terror gripped her chest as she held her breath.

A
great shadow fell over her as a heavy paw hit her side with one powerful swipe.
Its claws ripped through the fabric of her dress and past the flesh of her back
as she was thrown up into the air. Her body collided into a wall of stone. Her
head cracked against the rough surface and she could do nothing but lie in a
crumpled heap after. Still, she struggled to pull herself onto her hands and
knees, knowing she was about to die.

Through
the roars in her ears and the howls being carried by the wind, she heard words.

“GRrrOUT!”

The
creature’s words pierced through the fog. If it wanted her to leave, perhaps it
did not mean to kill and eat her after all, and this gave her a foolish hope.
Somehow she found the strength to rise up and turned from the blur of dark fur
bristling in the shadows. Now facing the glass balcony door, she raced onto the
ledge until her hands were against the twisted railing. The balcony was higher
than she’d expected, looming over the gorge between two mountains. She wondered
what it would feel like to truly fly all the way to the bottom. Sobs spilled
from her lips, but within she felt nothing but apathy. A fitting end to an
otherwise useless life.

But
she owed it to Wyll, who was waiting for her, to all those who loved her and
were gone forever, to refuse the coward’s path. So she turned around slowly,
deliberately to face a creature forged by fur, teeth and nightmares.

Golden
eyes glared at her from the open glass door, and the moonlight abated against
an ominous cloud. It stretched out a clawed foot onto the ledge. Its growl
rumbled in her ears, stirring her to action.

Move, you brainless wench,
an inner voice taunted her.

This
was no better than jumping off the side of the mountain. Before sense could
convince her otherwise, she gripped the metal railing and threw her leg up to
climb over the other side. Another roar followed her heels as she began to
climb further along the edge. Ice along the edge of the balcony was thick and
though the creature roared behind her, she refused to stop. She must find a way
down or die, and her feet desperately sought a firm hold below.

The
bottom of her boot slid against the thick ice, snow blinding her vision. She
cried out now of a different kind of terror as her feet hung, danced upon air,
and she gripped the thin icy ledge just below the balcony. Her fingers burned
as she sought purchase through the leather gloves. She slipped and her stomach
lurched as wind and snow sucked and pulled her toward the abyss.

Her
hands slipped off the ledge.

Claws
clamped down on her arm, jerking her body as it fought against the sensation of
falling and capture. Her long curls whipped wildly before her as she was lifted
and dragged against stone. The pain was nearly unbearable as sharp metal clawed
past the double layers of her dresses and into her flesh.

One
thing was certain. She wasn’t ready to die, not until she found a way to give
her nephew the life he deserved. Tears of relief squeezed from her clenched
eyelids as she was lifted onto the balcony.

The
beast growled as it dragged her back into the shelter of the room. She felt a
powerful arm, muscle and sinew straining against her body as it tucked her
against its brown mane. She was too dazed to do anything but cling to the
creature in turn as it barreled through the castle. Slowly, her muscles relaxed
enough for her to almost enjoy that wild rocking sensation and the thump of the
beast’s heartbeat.

Sometime
after, she was laid onto her back. Flashes of silvery light winked in and out
of the shadows and the last sight to meet her was a pair of luminous golden eyes
before she was lost once more to her dreams.

Other Books by the Author

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About the Author

Jennifer Silverwood was raised deep in the heart of Texas and has been spinning yarns a mile high since childhood. In her spare time she reads and writes and tries to sustain her wanderlust, whether it’s the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, the highlands of Ecuador or a road trip to the next town. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, in print or reality, she dreams of one day proving to the masses that everything really is better in Texas. She is the author of the Heaven’s Edge series, Stay and Silver Hollow.

4 comments:

I've recently discovered Susan Dennard, traditional author of the Truthwitch Series & Something Strange & Deadly. Her blog is full of awesome advice and encouragement. It's given me the inspiration to go the traditional route as well, soon as I finish my next book ;) In the real world, my brother inspires me most of all. He is always looking for the best in people and never gives up on anyone, not to mention he's a fantastic parent.